Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Bend and Manzini Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Bend and Manzini

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $723 per month in Big Bend vs $349 in Manzini, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,455 per month in Big Bend vs $523 in Manzini, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,186 per month in Big Bend vs $697 in Manzini, rent included.

Big Bend costs about 107% more than Manzini, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Big Bend and Manzini are more affordable than the global median – Big Bend 47% lower, Manzini 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 SZL 66.9

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.76 SZL 449

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 SZL 83.8

Cappuccino

$1.58 SZL 25.52

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 SZL 12.28

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 SZL 6.74

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 SZL 24.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SZL 26.19

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 SZL 19.60

$1.24 SZL 20.08

-2.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 SZL 13.60

$0.93 SZL 15.08

-9.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 SZL 25.52

$1.82 SZL 29.43

-13.19%

Eggs

$4.89 SZL 79.0

$1.17 SZL 18.90

317.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.96 SZL 306

$7.25 SZL 117

161.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 SZL 200

$3.08 SZL 49.77

302.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.88 SZL 78.9

$1.91 SZL 30.91

155.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 SZL 69.8

$1.43 SZL 23.11

202.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.59 SZL 9.53

$0.59 SZL 9.55

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 SZL 30.39

$0.83 SZL 13.47

126.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 SZL 19.62

$0.48 SZL 7.68

152.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 SZL 39.10

$0.60 SZL 9.68

303.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 SZL 35.49

$0.51 SZL 8.25

331.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 SZL 14.84

$0.41 SZL 6.69

124.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 SZL 15.23

$0.66 SZL 10.59

42.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.94 SZL 96.0

$3.14 SZL 50.8

89.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.75 SZL 60.5

$3.44 SZL 55.6

9.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 SZL 10.46

$0.64 SZL 10.35

1.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 SZL 14.51

$0.84 SZL 13.54

7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.27 SZL 20.59

$0.63 SZL 10.26

101.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.01 SZL 404

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 SZL 30.89

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 SZL 25.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 SZL 59.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 SZL 18.62

$1.34 SZL 21.63

-14.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$12.5K SZL 201.7K

$17.2K SZL 278.2K

-27.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.8K SZL 303.5K

$16.2K SZL 262.2K

15.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$132 SZL 2,138

$73.8 SZL 1,192

79.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.39 SZL 394

$12.36 SZL 200

97.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.14 SZL 406

$30.80 SZL 498

-18.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.37 SZL 297

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.54 SZL 41.03

Cinema Ticket

$3.05 SZL 49.36

$3.68 SZL 59.4

-17.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.76 SZL 594

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.24 SZL 408

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.70 SZL 609

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 SZL 887

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$113 SZL 1,831

$171 SZL 2,762

-33.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.0 SZL 1,211

$109 SZL 1,757

-31.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,110 SZL 17.9K

$368 SZL 5,949

201.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$760 SZL 12.3K

$277 SZL 4,476

174.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$199 SZL 3,215

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$144 SZL 2,326

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$795 SZL 12.8K

$410 SZL 6,619

94.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-10.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Big Bend: August 29, 2026

Last update for Manzini: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $113 in Big Bend versus $171 in Manzini. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 94% higher in Big Bend, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Big Bend vs Manzini: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $723 in Big Bend, $349 in Manzini – roughly 107% apart. Big Bend costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,085 per month in Big Bend and $524 in Manzini. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manzini, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $723 in Big Bend and $349 in Manzini. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 120% more in Big Bend, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $723 in Big Bend and $349 in Manzini, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Manzini – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Manzini. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Big Bend makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.